Kogi state government has placed a ban on the daily collection of revenue by transport unions across the state.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo made this known at a strategic stakeholders engagement meeting in Lokoja on Wednesday.
‘Represented by the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, the Governor said implementation of the law for the Infrastructure Maintenance Levy has been undermined by some union leaders who prioritize personal gains over the interest of their members and the state.
He explained that the Kogi State Revenue Harmonization Law introduced the Infrastructure Maintenance Levy (IML) in 2017, a daily Levy that commercial vehicles plying the roads are expected to pay.
“The IML was introduced to improve lives and livelihood, ensure economic growth through the maintenance and improvement of state’s infrastructure.”
Ododo said while the constitutional rights of individuals to freedom of association will be respected by the state government, union dues must be fair and agreed upon by members and collected monthly, bi-annually or annually and not daily as captured in their by-laws.
He explained that after consultations with relevant stakeholders including the various unions, the state government has earmarked official rates for Infrastructure Maintenance Levy (IML) across all 21 local government areas in the state.
“Tricycles, popularly called keke, and taxi cabs within Lokoja metropolis will pay N500 as IML, while motorcycles, popularly called okada, buses and Sienna within Lokoja metropolis are expected to pay N400, N700 and N600 Naira respectively.
“Tricycles, motorcycles, taxi cabs and Sienna outside Lokoja metropolis are also expected to pay N400, N300, N400 and N500 respectively.”
The State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd), assured that the policy will be implemented with full force.
Omodara urged all the union associations to work within the ambit of the law.
Responding, Chairman of Kogi State Chapter of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Yahaya Ibrahim and his counterparts in other transport unions pledged to abide by the new policy.
